From The Other Side is a weekly links post, hopefully, giving you an inside look at LSU's upcoming opponent each Sunday based on reports from that team's beat writers.
What a difference a week makes for the LSU football program.
LSU interim coach Ed Orgeron, with interim offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger calling plays, leads LSU against Missouri, which handed Delaware State a 79-0 shellacking last Saturday. Leading 58-0 at halftime, the game was shortened to two 10-minutes quarters in the second half.
Despite the opponents in its two wins, it’s clear Missouri (2-2, 0-1 SEC) has some firepower on offense, led by quarterback Drew Lock. Lock is either first or second in the SEC in five major quarterback categories.
LSU hasn't faced Missouri since the latter of the two joined the SEC.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Most of Missouri’s starters were pulled by the start of the second half of the Tigers’ record-setting performance. Lock’s five touchdowns, which ties a school record, matched the amount of touchdowns he tossed against Eastern Michigan in Week 2. At least one player acknowledge he was looking ahead to LSU before the game even started.
- Missouri is known for producing NFL caliber defensive linemen. Defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr., who coach Barry Odom said was one of the strongest players on the field, could be the next great one. The former No. 2 overall recruit, according to ESPN, is demanding double teams and creating havoc in backfields.
- Tying a school record with four touchdown catches against Delaware State, Missouri wide receiver J’Mon Moore rebounded from a fumble on the final play against in Georgia in Week 3 – a 28-27 loss to open up its conference schedule.
Kansas City Star (subscription required)
- Allowing just 140 total yards, Missouri's 79-0 victory against Delaware State was the Tigers' first shutout in more than five years. Delaware State registered only seven yards in the second half and turned the ball over four times.
- Two of Missouri’s running backs – graduate-transfer Alex Ross and sophomore Nate Strong – were shelved by ankle injuries against Delaware State, opening the door for Damarea Crockett. Crockett wasn’t even the starter, but he totaled 115 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
- Missouri is somewhat familiar with the distractions LSU is undergoing, as former Missouri coach Gary Pinkel resigned at the end of last season due to illness. Much like what LSU players are currently experiencing, Missouri players were once uncertain of what the future held for them.
Columbia Daily Tribune
- With not much talent surrounding him, Lock took his licks last season. He was starter coming into this season but wasn’t the clear answer going forward. Through four games this season, he’s matching his talent with production, giving Missouri a “real chance” against LSU, one columnist writes.
- Though Ed Orgeron said LSU would open up the offense more, Odom isn’t exactly buying it. "I would anticipate we’ll get a heavy dose of No. 7,” Odom said of Leonard Fournette.
- There’s a perception amongst Missouri fans that the football team is cursed, having been on the wrong side of some crushing losses since 1990. That was amplified by the home loss to Georgia. But, statically speaking, Missouri isn’t as unlucky as fans think.
Twitter Follows
- Dave Matter, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Ben Frederickson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Benjamin Hochman, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Tod Palmer, The Kansas City Star
- Alec Lewis, The Kansas City Star
- Blake Toppmeyer, Columbia Daily Tribune
- Joe Walljasper, Columbia Daily Tribune
- Joe Vozzeli, Columbia Daily Tribune
